Carolina welcomes 2,400 new graduate students to campus

Graduate orientation held on August 16, 2023

A view of a large formal hall filled with people sitting in the audience. At the front of the hall is a man at a podium and six people sitting at a table with microphones. — More than 800 incoming graduate students gathered at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center for UNC-Chapel Hill’s Graduate Orientation on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

More than 800 incoming graduate students gathered at the 2023 Graduate Orientation on Wednesday, August 16, members of the 2,400 new graduate students beginning at UNC-Chapel Hill this semester.

Kate McAnulty, senior associate dean for student affairs at The Graduate School, welcomed the new Tar Heels to campus by saying, “Higher learning — and graduate education in particular — is an investment in your future and we are so pleased that you chose to continue your education here at Carolina, an institution that’s committed to providing you with the tools necessary for a successful graduate experience and beyond. ”

A man stands at a podium and looks at the table next to him. At the table are six people, each with a microphone. The backs of the heads of several rows of audience members can be seen in the foreground. — **Brian Rybarczyk**, associate dean for professional development at The Graduate School, facilitated a panel of faculty who answered questions from incoming graduate students. The 2023 Graduate Orientation was held at George Watts Hill Alumni Center. August 16, 2023. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

The annual graduate orientation event included presentations, a resource fair, smaller breakout sessions and social events. The morning events featured a panel with faculty from programs across campus, including Chris Clark, associate professor of political science, Trenette Clark Goings, professor of social work, Amanda Holliday, associate professor of Public Health, Heidi Hennink-Kaminski, senior associate dean at the Hussman School of Media and Journalism, Alex Miller, professor of chemistry, and Kumi Silva, associate professor of communication.

This was followed by a panel of student representatives who answered questions provided by Laura Thorp, director of student affairs at The Graduate School, including questions submitted by new students in the audience.

A woman stands at a podium holding a laptop. She is smiling at the table of panelists next to her. At the table, three students are wearing matching "Carolina" t-shirts. A fourth student is smiling and look back at the first three. — Laura Thorp, director of student affairs at The Graduate School (far left) led a panel of student representatives. Panelists included (from left) orientation ambassadors **Danya Krueger**, **Shaun Jones**, **Simone Wilson**, **Lauren Hawkinson**, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Government, and **Rebecca Rice** (not pictured). Graduate Orientation was held at George Watts Hill Alumni Center on August 16, 2023. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

A “vast array of resources”

A number of students are walking through an arch made of blue and white balloons. They are dressed for hot weather and chatting with each other. — After a series of presentations and panels at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center, students walked to the Blue Zone at nearby Kenan Memorial Football Stadium for a resource fair, lunch, and networking. August 16, 2023. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

More than forty different University and community organizations, including Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG), Chapel Hill Transit, Student Life and Leadership and the UNC Visitors Center participated in the resource fair, held at the Blue Zone in Kenan Memorial Football Stadium. Campus tours customized specifically for graduate students drew hundreds of participants.

A man in yellow stands behind a table with his back to the camera at a resource fair. Five women stand on the other side of the table and are looking at the materials on the table. — New graduate students talk with Warren Christian, English Language Specialist for The Writing Center, at the UNC Graduate School Orientation resource fair, lunch, and networking held at the Blue Zone in Kenan Memorial Football Stadium. August 16, 2023. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

A group of students carrying bags are looking over handouts and materials on a row of tables at a resource fair. — New graduate students had a chance to learn about Chapel Hill’s free bus service from representatives from Chapel Hill Transit at the UNC Graduate School Orientation resource fair, lunch, and networking held at the Blue Zone in Kenan Memorial Football Stadium. August 16, 2023. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Building new connections

The afternoon included breakout sessions on topics such as “Transitioning to the American University”, “Coping with Imposter Syndrome”, and “Connecting with Carolina and the Community.” Some breakout sessions were led by members of The Graduate School’s Orientation Ambassadors, multidisciplinary team of graduate students who worked with The Graduate School to plan and implement the 2023 Graduate Orientation.

12 graduate students wearing matching "Carolina" blue shirts and name tags smile and pose together in front of a backdrop featuring the Old Well. At the center of the group are two Graduate School administrators who are the only one's not in matching shirts.. — The 2023 Orientation Ambassadors are a multidisciplinary team of graduate students who worked with The Graduate School to plan and implement this year’s Graduate Orientation. Photo by Rachell Underhill.

In her concluding remarks, McAnulty urged students to build new connections.

“I encourage and challenge you to make the most of your time here today — meeting new colleagues and administrators and absorbing the vast array of resources that are available to you as a Carolina graduate student.”